Japan's Anime Girl Virtual Assistant Enters Mass Production

Back in 2016, crowdfunded pre-orders commenced for the Gatebox virtual assistant. Now in 2018, the product is going into mass production at around half its original asking price.

Below is the original concept movie, showing what the virtual character Azuma Hikari can do (which includes texting, chatting, and turning lights on and off).

The original Gatebox was ¥300,000 ($3615) and limited to only 300 units, but the mass production version is ¥150,000 ($1807).

According to Famitsu, the mass production version has been improved. For example, it has a slightly slimmer design as well as dual mics for better communication. Moreover, the sensors can recognition face and movements.

Gatebox’s slogan is “Living with characters.” Shouldn’t it be imprisoning them?

Japan has a very high suicide rate (averaged 70 people per day in 2014) so this might help in reducing it a little. It can be very demoralising to work all day and come home to an empty apartment with no one to greet you or make you feel welcome, especially if your apartment doesn't let you keep pets.

When you show an entirely prerendered video to advertise your product, and show absolutely nothing of the actual product. All customers should hailtail it in the other direction because not even you are impressed by your real product.

In the wake of community and political pressure following the livestreaming of the horrific terrorist attacks at Christchurch on Friday, Australian ISPs have started blocking some sites used to rehost footage of the livestream, including the infamous 8chan image board.